Storylines to Watch:
The 2018 Rocky Mountain Cup concludes...
Saturday marks the final installment of the 2018 Rocky Mountain Cup, a 13-year-old rivalry between the Colorado Rapids and Real Salt Lake.
Fans will remember the emotional comeback on July 21, where the Rapids managed a 2-2 draw in the 88th minute at Rio Tinto Stadium to keep their Rocky Mountain Cup hopes alive.
The previous two results mean that Colorado will need victory by a four-goal margin to reclaim the Cup. A win by a three-goal differential would leave the teams tied on points and total goals, so Salt Lake would keep the Cup as the current holders.
Player to Watch: Joao Plata
Just a month ago, Joao Plata was struggling to get any minutes for Real Salt Lake. That held true until he came off the bench in the 66th minute against Minnesota United FC on July 14 and scored two goals. In the six games since, Plata has received the nod for the Starting XI five times and has scored two goals and two assists, including one against the Rapids on July 21. His recent success has been impactful in keeping RSL afloat in the Western Conference playoff race.
Plata has scored in three of Real Salt Lake’s last four MLS meetings with the Rapids. He has seven goals in 15 games against Colorado, his most against any team.
The Ecuadorian has already matched his scoring output from last season with seven goals to his name. Since joining RSL in 2013, Plata has scored a total of 44 goals and played in five playoff games.
Colorado Rapids vs Real Salt Lake - Head-to-Head
The Rapids have met Real Salt Lake 42 times in the MLS regular season, resulting in a 13-18-11 record. RSL is currently in fourth place in the Western Conference with a 11-10-5 overall record. The Rapids, meanwhile, are coming off a 2-0 loss against LAFC at Banc of California Stadium that sees their season record sit at 6-13-6 overall.
- Head-to-Head Overall: Colorado Rapids 13 wins, 40 goals | Real Salt Lake 18 wins, 54 goals | 11 ties
- Head-to-Head in Colorado: Colorado Rapids 10 wins, 25 goals | Real Salt Lake 5 wins, 18 goals | 5 ties
- Previous Meeting: Real Salt Lake 2, Colorado Rapids 2 (July 21, 2018)
